Signal



Jan. 26, 1943. i SAME, 2,309,277

SIGNAL Original Fileci July 11, 1939 Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNAL Francis Claire Sams, Bath, N. Y.

Original application July 11, 1939, Serial No.

283,887. Divided and this application August 19, 1940, Serial No. 353,312

1 Claim.

This invention pertains to a signal light of a type to reflect light from an elongate surface. Such a signal, for example, is the directional indicator now being used on automobiles.

In automobile directional signal lights it is desirable for the signal to be of relatively slight depth and as compact as possible, The housing for the signal should involve but minimum space and also minimum cost of production; Furthermore, it is desirable to be able to embody light source in a restricted area and yet obtain brilliant illumination throughout a considerable length of signal arm.

Previously, signal light structures have comprised a plane reflector extended out along the signal arm and positioned at an angle to alight source; However, to an observerof such a signal there appear areas of relatively weak illumination. The light must find an angle of reflection that favors the eye of the observer. Some of this light must travel a relatively considerable distance to find a favorable angle of reflection. Such distance of light travel unduly diminishes the light intensity. Moreover, the light from other areas than the favored one is dissipated. As a result there are dark areas in the reflector arm.

Also, in some cases proposals have been made to utilize a curved reflecting surface but a tendency of such surfaces is to reflect better at the end of the arm than in the middle. Consequently, considerable depth of signal housing is required to obtain suitable reflection. A directiona1 signal of such depth approaches a light of the type of an automobile headlight. Such depth to create desirable reflection all along a signal arm with an arcuate reflector would be unduly great and would be inconsistent with a compact and efficient directional signal.

A purpose of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages thus set forth and to accomplish more uniform and brilliant illumination along a directional signal arm but with e. compact signal. Accomplishment of these objects and of others may be found in the present invention as presented in the following illustrative description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. Novel features of this invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claim. Various objects and advantages will be apparent in this description of a preferred embodiment of the principles of this invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal cross section through a directional signal suitable for an automobile;

Figure 2 shows an enlarged portion of a directional signal representing diagrammatically the nature of the travel of light rays according to the present invention. V

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. I

Reference is made particularly to the drawing but understanding that the present invention is not limited to the specific forms shown inasmuch as the principles of this invention maybe applied to other embodiments.

In the drawing is shown an elongate signal housing I containing a light source suchas electric bulb 2. From the sideof bulb 2 extends a; reflecting surface 3 inclined to the light source 2 so as to direct light forwardly of the signal. The inclination of this surface 3 is therefore from the rear to the front of the housing proceeding from the light source to the end of the housing. This reflecting surface 3 is broken up into aseries of gradat'ed reflectors 4, each inclined individually to the light source. Between adjacent individual reflectors 4 are interposed connecting surfaces 5, which if desired may likewise be of light reflecting nature. In the form shown in Figure 1 the individual reflectors 4 are substantially parallel to each other but because of their gradations are offset to each other. In the form of this invention illustrated in Figure 2, the individual reflectors are inclined at suitable angles to strengthen the appearance of individual light sources to an observer at a given position. The individual reflecting elements are inclined at a greater angle to the bulb than the group as a whole. If desired these individual inclinations may be such that the angles of incidence or of reflection of light from source 2 are substantially the same for each individual reflector 4. The intermediate steps 5 may likewise be varied in inclination to the light so as best for each to transmit light reflections within the housing back upon a suitable individual reflector 4. Thus the housing fronting the reflector becomes in effect a light source and, furthermore, accomplishes this effect within a relatively short and shallow space.

By reference to the diagrammatic showing of Figure 2 it will be evident that if a single, plane mirror were inclined throughout as a continuous surface at the angle of any given individual reflecting surface 4, the angle of incidence of light from a given light source 2 would be changed given angle of light incidence and reflection. Butv this point may be considered as at some considerable distance from the light source, so the in-.

tensity of illumination of that point of reflection is considerably diminished. Under this invention the intensity of illumination is increased for such a point, such as point 4, and the point is more compactly positioned in a given physical -housing. This individual reflecting surface is multiplied by the gradated relationship shown. Consequently, individual reflecting surfaces become intensely illuminated and serve to bring relatively near to the light source a plurality of well illuminated surfaces. To an observer these all appear to be light sources. Practically, an intensely and evenly illuminated automobile directional signal of even as great a length as six inches may be produced under this invention with a depth as little as three-fourths of an inch. The individual reflecting surfaces may be inclined within this shallow space so as to present concentrated light to a given observer. This eifectively. assures that the end of the directional signal may be illuminated evenly with the intermediate Dortions.

Such an improved directional signal possesses not only light reflecting advantages but readily lends itself to inexpensive but accurate large scale production. The angularity of the individual reflectors is readily accomplished as deired even with the entire reflector 3 stamped as a single piece. The walls of the housingmay be brought close together in compact arrangement. The housing need be sufficiently deep to receive only the bulb of an electric lamp. The material involved to construct such a. housing may be brought to a minimum.

This invention has been described with respect particularly to directional signal lights suitable for use on an automobile, but in some aspects of the invention advantages follow when applied to other types of light having an elongate surface, such for example as signs. In these, advantages may result from concentrating a light source and extending therefrom an elongate reflecting surface having gradated individual reflectors in the manner described herein.

While I have described this invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications and specific applications of this invention may be made within the scope of the 1 appended claim.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 283,887 for Directional signal indicator filed July 11, 1939.

' What I claim is:

In a signal comprising an elongated housing, shallow from front to back, and having a transparent front wall, and a source of light atone end of said housing; a stepped reflector extending from the back of the housing near the source of light to the front wall at the opposite end of said housing, said stepped reflector comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced plane primary reflecting surfaces disposed at an angle to the plane of the reflector of the Whole, successive primary reflecting surfaces being disposed at progressively increasing angles to said plane as their distance from the source of light increases at such angles that rays from the source of light will be reflected forwardly along parallel lines, and plane intermediate reflecting surface'sconnecting successive primary reflecting surfaces, the angle of said intermediate reflecting surfaces being such that rays from the source of light will be reflected by the intermediate reflecting surfaces to the primary reflecting surfaces FRANCIS CLAIRE SAMS. 

